Newton altered our take on the cosmos by showing that the motions of the planets could be explained and predicted by a few simple laws. The tremendous success of Newton's theory inspired Laplace to declare that, given sufficient computational power, he could predict the future of the universe. The theory is indeed powerful but developments in dynamics, such as the discovery of chaos, have proven Laplace incorrect. This presentation will discuss two examples of unpredictable behavior in the solar system: the evolution of the Earth's obliquity (currently 23 degrees) that will probably lead to catastrophic changes in the earth's climate within the next two billion years (a live demonstration will be provided), and the dynamics of Asteroids, which from time to time clobber Earth.
Norman Murray is at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). His research encompasses quasars, dynamics, and helioseismology. Closer to home, he enjoys body surfing, rock climbing, and cross country skiing with his wife and three children.